CEIS: Center for European Integration Studies

hosted by

Prof. Dr. Joscha Beckmann and Prof. Dr. Helmut Wagner

Foto: Ezra Bailey Stone/SimpleImages_Moment/Getty Images

European integration towards the EU and EMU has so far been a success both politically and economically. Politically, because it has ensured peace/political stability in Europe: 70 years without major political conflicts between the member states. Economically, because Europe has grown together economically into a single market and a European Union through increasing trade, direct investment, etc., characterized also by the realization of the "four freedoms" (free movement of goods, persons, services and capital), finally crowned by the creation of a single currency. This has greatly promoted economic growth and stability in Europe.

At the same time, the EU has become more and more attractive for other countries, so that it has become larger and more complex through various rounds of accession (by including institutionally more and more diverse states). The latter in particular (the integration of economically and institutionally differently developed states) represents a major challenge for the existence of the E(M)U. In the last 10 to 15 years there have been increasing differences and divergences (economic and institutional), which could endanger the existence of the E(M)U in the medium term if appropriate countermeasures are not taken. The task and goal of this research center is to accompany these developments scientifically.